I suppose the phrase 'old folks home' is no longer appropriate as it sounds rather offensive to the aged, but this name fits Country Village in Casco, Maine nicely.  Perhaps its the fact that the setting is an old farm house on plenty of property, or the small town location.  Perhaps it's the fact that the residents are elderly, but not severely disabled, or perhaps it's the family feeling created by the wonderful staff, but Country Village has always flt like th place Aunt Bea would move ino when she could no longer care for Andy, Opie or herself some day. My wife and I had the blessing of visiting there again this summer to do a show out in their yard.

The show was at 1:30 in the afternoon on one of the few days it has not rained during the month of June this year.  While the residents, staff and guests were under tents on the lawn, I was performing on th blacktop of their driveway.  I remember the days when I could do four or even (once) five shows in a day out in the hot sun, but that was then, and this is now.  In my 60's one show can be tiring, and the heat of performing on summer blacktop can feel pretty intense.  While I was pleased with how the perormance went, I confess that, by 30 minuts in I was more focused on getting done than on the Gospel message I came to deliver.  Then, of course, the internal conflict began: "Hypocrite.  Why bother doing this if you just want to get done nd cool off."  Whether this was from the devil or my own self-condemnation I don't know, but, while outwardly my show ended well, inwardly my thoughts were a conflicted mess.  Could anything good come from a program when my own thoughts were far from Christ-like.

As I was picking up the various props scattered around their parking lot, Sue was in a conversation with one of the elderly residents.  When we finally got into the cool of our car and headed home, she told me that the lady was a fellow believer, and she was so incredibly blessed to have us come and share the Gospel with her and her friends.  Just one more lesson in 'it's not really about me, but about what God chooses to do'.

Even us old folks need that reminder.